Google already tried that (i.e. integrating carrier sms). Maybe it was dropped because someone sued due to the app causing expensive international/roaming sms charges to be incurred without user knowing.
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Will Google / Android ever have an iMessage type app ?
- Thread starter Tig Bitties
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Google already tried that (i.e. integrating carrier sms). Maybe it was dropped because someone sued due to the app causing expensive international/roaming sms charges to be incurred without user knowing.
Hangouts was a cluster F from the beginning. I doubt any law suits was the reason for SMS being dropped from it.
The only issue with Hangout is that it is account based instead of phone number. Other than that it is pretty standard.
Anyway, I think it was too complicated to include SMS. If I remembered correctly at one time Whatsapp also included SMS interface. I think it doesnt really matter as SMS use is diminishing for social messaging. Most people just hop on to one of the data-based platforms. SMS is mostly relegated to one-off non-chatting type messaging (at least in my part of the world)
The problem with Hangouts was that it was okay if you used it for mainly one or two things. But once you add Google Voice(Phone, SMS, and Voice Mail), Default SMS, Google+ messaging, and alerts. Then it became a cluster F. Google made a mistake by trying to implement too many services into one app. At least that's how I feel.
OK, I see what you mean. But with allo/duo, Google is completely going in the opposite direction which I think will be a mess later when integrating text and voice/video calls (just like GV/G+). Google needs to get its act together when something like Whatsapp has text/voice/video integration within a single app.
I don't see that happening. Hopefully it doesn't. But the fact that Allo and Duo is a separate app, already means Google doesn't have that in mind. Apple keeps iMessage and Facetime separate, so I hope Google follows their lead.
And face more lawsuits form the EU over the defaults that are required on a handset in order to get the Google blessing for the Play Store? Doubtful.
Compared to Google, Apple is "getting away with murder" in that respect. Android at least allows a CHOICE fro your default browser or messaging app once the device is set up, with iOS you need to jump through flaming hoops to open a link from Mail in Chrome yet the EU doesn't TOUCH Apple. Google is being sued by the EU for forcing certain apps to be included by the device manufacturers in order to allow Google services to work.
I'm not familiar with Allo. I'll do some research, but can you nutshell me on why Allo is better than, say, WhatsApp? I'm really missing iMessage and trying to find a suitable Android alternative.
Thanks.
IOS is not the majority in marketshare, Apple can do as they please.
Also, other email apps allow links to be open in chrome. Spark and outlook are two examples.
The EU lawsuits will not win against Android. Not unless consumers of the region will be happy to pay more for their Android phones. But the issue about the search engine is understandable.
None of the suits, even if won, will affect Allo becoming a default SMS messenger. Especially since users would still have the choice to make other apps the default SMS messenger. So implementing Allo to become the default SMS and online messenger app in one, is not off the table.
Well Allo isn't better per se, but it's already a Google app, which makes it better to implement it into something as similar as iMessage.
Allo's user interface and features are much better than WhatsApp. What really makes WhatsApp great is it's user base.
This is exactly why I returned to the iOS. I just can't go without iMessage. I really found nothing on the Android side that compared. I have been using the iPhone since the iPhone 3G. I decided to give Android a try with the Nexus 6P. Wonderful phone but I hated using SMS text in comparison to iMessage. Other Android apps didn't really seem to fit the void I felt by the lost of iMessage. After two weeks, I came right back to the iPhone 7 Plus.
But the thing is, iMessage is proprietary. So even if Android did have an iMessage equivalent, when you message iPhone users, you'll still be under regular SMS restrictions or you'll have to get them to install that Google message app on the iPhone.
This is why I don't understand half the arguments made about the need of iMessage, it's never going to be compatible with anything but iPhones. I completely understand the criticism of Android's default message app only being a SMS client, and yes, Android needs to get with the times in that regard. But iPhone users need to realize, once you leave iPhone, your iMessage privileges are gone when messaging other iPhones users, unless you get them to install and use something other than the default iMessage. And that seems to be the biggest criticism of iPhone users against Android, which makes no sense.
Being that said ... When messaging cross platform beyond standard SMS rules. One party or the other has no choice but to use a 3rd party app, being that iMessage is the proprietary default for iOS. So the argument of the sender or receiver's need to install a 3rd party app being a hassle is void. It's not a hassle, it's a must. And completely on Apple.
Now when a user mostly communicates with other iPhone users, if iMessage is that important to them, then stick to iPhones. Cause it will be an unavoidable problem otherwise.
Here's the thing: For some of us (like me) literally ALL of the people we text with have iPhones. You might find that hard to believe, but for me it's a reality. So I think the point is (again, for me) that "the need" for iMessage is that when the only people you text with ALL have iPhones, it doesn't matter that iMessage is not compatible with anything but iPhones. If you don't have an iPhone, YOU are the odd man out. YOU are the only one that doesn't have an iPhone. And when you're texting / sharing pictures / sharing videos with iPhone users, having iMessage is much better, easier and more convenient than NOT having iMessage.
Ehh...iMessage is convenient if you're in the US market...not so much in other markets where other messaging apps are more popular (even with iPhone users).
I think most people understand that. Seriously it's all about priority when it comes to choose between iPhone and Android. And if iMessage is very very very important you should maybe stick with iPhone. Most people I know use iPhones too, but to me a smartphone is so much more than texting. It's the texting and a little more fluidity that drags me more to iPhone, everything else to Android and in my case the S8.
For the record, I'm keeping my S8. At least for now. I just miss having iMessage. Simple as that.
Yes, and as I previously stated in the last sentence of my post, I agree with that.
The whole premise of my post is towards those that are blaming Android for not having a solution for Apple's proprietary iMessage. Doesn't make sense.
Gotcha. (by the way, I don't think I saw your last sentence the first time around. oops.)
Let's say Android has a imessage equivalent from Google, feature for feature. How will that help when when it won't be installed by default on iPhones? iPhone users will still have to install that app to do group chats and send videos between android and iOS users. If iPhone users don't install that Google chat app, their messages will be sent over sms to android users.
I'm a long time android user and have hardly used sms texts (mostly use WhatsApp), I'm not surprised new android users don't like sms. There are a lot of features sms doesn't have.
I'm a long time android user and have hardly used sms texts (mostly use WhatsApp), I'm not surprised new android users don't like sms. There are a lot of features sms doesn't have.
I want iMessage on Android. I'd be willing to pay a buck or two per month to have it if Apple ever decided to offer it as a paid service.
It'll help because it'll mean you have native messaging with ALL Android users that's far more robust than using SMS. Right now, even though Android has 85+% of the market, the native default messaging app, in most cases, is an SMS app and thus messaging is mostly SMS/MMS, even between other Android users. IPhone users don't have to get other iPhone users to install/log in to iMessage so by default they see the benefits immediately when contacting other iPhone users.
And most Android users here in the States just use the default messaging solution with is usually either Google Messenger or an SMS client installed my the OEM.
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If Apple offered iMessage for Android, I would switch to Android tomorrow. That and consistent, timely iOS updates are the only things that have kept me on iPhone for the last 2-3 years. I really, really want out of the walled garden but my entire extended family and most friends use Apple devices and I would be completely out of the loop as I couldn't convince all my friends/family to install/use something like WhatsApp. Heck, many of my family members would be completely flummoxed if they tried to master a new and different messaging app as they can barely navigate iMessage (LOL).
I understand why Apple doesn't release iMessage for Android - it's to keep people like me from switching away from their very overpriced hardware. There would be some benefits for Apple in making iMessage universal, especially with the new iMessage payments feature in iOS 11 and sticker packs, etc., just not enough to counteract the loss in hardware and app sales for those iPhone users who would then jump to Android.
I understand why Apple doesn't release iMessage for Android - it's to keep people like me from switching away from their very overpriced hardware. There would be some benefits for Apple in making iMessage universal, especially with the new iMessage payments feature in iOS 11 and sticker packs, etc., just not enough to counteract the loss in hardware and app sales for those iPhone users who would then jump to Android.